Archive for the ‘Censorship’ Category

March 30, 07: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has banned satellite channel FTV for two months. The transmission or re-transmission of this channel on all platforms has been prohibited with effect from April 1, 2007 to May 30, 2007, throughout the country for showing programmes that are against good taste and decency, denigrate women and are likely to adversely affect public morality.

The ministry claims that some cable operators were transmitting/re-transmitting programmes such as ‘Midnight Hot’ wherein skimpily dressed and semi-naked models are shown. Therefore, the Government prohibited the transmission of the channel exercising powers under sub-section (2) of Section 20 of the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995.

February 23: FM radio stations can now breathe in some fresh air: they will be soon allowed to air sports commentary. It is seen as a first step towards giving radio stations greater freedom, including the ability to broadcast news. However, news broadcast will take considerable time to finally hit the airwaves, said Information & Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi.

The previous manager of a reformist South Chinese newspaper was granted an early release from prison, according to press freedom organization Reporters Sans Frontières. China recently opened its borders to foreign journalists, in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, while keeping a close eye on its own reporters. Is this a good sign or a decoy?

Li Minying, manager of Nanfang Dushi Bao, and former director Yu Huafeng, were condemned to eleven and twelve year sentences respectively in March 2004. They were found guilty of corruption after, according to them, using part of revenues to give a bonus to their employees.

Only recently i found this site, Reporters Without borders. Good one. Read what they say about them.
“Reporters Without Borders is an association officially recognised as serving the public interest.More than a third of the world’s people live in countries where there is no press freedom. Reporters Without Borders works constantly to restore their right to be informed. Fourty-two media professionals lost their lives in 2003 for doing what they were paid to do — keeping us informed. Today, more than 130 journalists around the world are in prison simply for doing their job. In Nepal, Eritrea and China, they can spend years in jail just for using the “wrong” word or photo. Reporters Without Borders believes imprisoning or killing a journalist is like eliminating a key witness and threatens everyone’s right to be informed. It has been fighting such practices for more than 18 years.”Posted by Harikrishnan P V

The government has amended Cable Television (Network) Rules, 1994 through a notification issued by the I&B Ministry under which “no film or film song or film promo or film trailer or music video or music albums or their promos, whether produced in India or abroad, shall be carried through cable service unless it has been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) as suitable for unrestricted public exhibition in India”.

One important question about the Chinese draft law that proposes to fine news media for reporting on “sudden incidents” without permission was answered Monday: the crackdown would apply to foreign media as well.Read More

NEW DELHI: The proposed Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India (Brai) is likely to cost the government Rs 601.1 million to set up, which includes recurring and non-recurring expenses.

According to projections made by the information and broadcasting ministry, the annual cost on pay and allowances of officers and staff of Brai would be Rs 85.7 million, with the chairperson’s remuneration being the highest wherein the monthly financial implication would be Rs 60,000.

Non-recurring expenses have been pegged at Rs 124.7 million, which include basic infrastructure for Brai.

The Indian government is proposing to set up Brai under the yet to be enacted Broadcasting Services Regulation Act. The functions of Brai will be to oversee the broadcast and cable industry in all its entirety with powers ranging from granting licences for any type of broadcasting services to ensuring quality of services to monitor content beamed on radio and TV channels.

It has also been proposed that Brai have five regional offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati.

There would be six full-time members of the regulatory authority, apart from the chairperson, with everybody’s term of office being for five years or till the time they attain the age of 65 — whichever being earlier.

The chairperson or any other member would not be eligible for a second term, but a member can be eligible for appointment as chairperson for the remaining part of his term.

Even though Brai is being set up as an independent organization, the government would keep a control over it through a government official of not less than additional secretary’s rank who will act as the chief executive of Brai.

A draft note, prepared by the government, states that the secretary of Brai would act as its CEO and the federal government would make available a panel of not less than three officials for a selection to be made.

All broadcast and cable related cases pending before the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), presently acting as the broadcast regulator, and the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) will be deemed as transferred to Brai once it is set up.

New Delhi, June 11: In a strong message to erring television channels, the Government has asked six channels, including music channels MTV and Channel V, to apologise for telecasting "objectionable videos" or be ready to be pulled off air.

"A personal hearing had been given to the channels and after that it was decided that the channels should apologise on air, through a scroll, for three days beginning June 16," an official of Information and Broadcasting Ministry said.

Apart from MTV and Channel V, other channels facing the heat are ITV, B4U, MH1 and ETC.

In the scroll, the channels will have to say, "The Information and Broadcasting Ministry issues a warning to the music channel for violating programme code. This TV channel assures to be more careful in future."

The official said that the action by the Ministry, issued under the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, follows a December order of the Mumbai High Court, which said that only 'U' certified songs should be telecasted on air.

The channels had originally been served the notice in February, but managed a temporary reprieve as they sought a personal hearing with Ministry officials. However, the meeting failed to cut much ice in their favour.

The Government is in the process of elaborating the current strictures in the Programme and Advertising Code. This, say officials, will give little space to channels who often escape the stick by claiming they were not aware of what is prohibited.